Dharma Kitchen

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a recipe today I think you are going to like. It's got zing. It's got zip. It's green, so you know it's good for you. And it's good for you all year round. It's from Tess Masters, a.k.a. the Blender Girl, whose new cookbook, The Blender Girl Smoothies, just came out. There are 100 delicious recipes, simply and beautifully photographed by Erin Kunkel, that are gluten free and vegan; many are also soy-free, nut-free and paleo-friendly. If you've got a fairly deep natural foods pantry already, you'll be ready to hit the ground blending right away. The recipes incorporate lots of fresh fruits and veggies, herbs, spices, natural sweeteners, nut milks. Tess offers some optional boosters such as chia, flaxseed, coconut oil, hemp seeds, protein powder, and superfood powders such as maqui, goji and maca, among others. Tess creates smoothies that are balanced and fulfilling, hitting all the notes a good dish would.

Each recipe comes with its own nutritional breakdown. You can also download the app, too, for on-the-go smoothie magic. In fact, this project started as an app before it became a book, and you can kind of tell because each recipe has its own little icon indicating the recipe's highlights, whether it's weight loss, detox, unsweetened, energizing, immunity, or inflammation, among other elements.

Oh! If you're into winning stuff—and who's not?—please check this out. Tess is hosting a huge giveaway with KitchenAid. One lucky winner in the U.S has a chance to win a KitchenAid Gift Pack, which includes a Torrent Blender, Pro-Line Stand Mixer, and Pro-Line food processor valued at about $2,000. The giveaway runs for the whole month of July and is open to residents of the US. Here's more information.

This recipe comes to us courtesy of Tess Masters and is reprinted with permission from The Blender Girl Smoothies publisher, Ten Speed Press.

Green Mojito

This is a cold-and-flu buster and potent detoxifier, all in one zesty cocktail! The bromelain in pineapple suppresses coughs and loosens mucus, while mint clears respiratory congestion, soothes sore throats, and alleviates nausea. The vitamin C in limes has antibiotic power, anti-inflammatories in kale and pineapple combat arthritis, and ginger boosts immunity, aids digestion, and adds a powerful zing.